Key Stage 4

The Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) curriculum at Thurston Community College is designed to promote academic excellence and inclusion as well as effective citizenship.

Students follow a curriculum based upon a core group of academic GCSE qualifications comprising English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science and Religious Studies. In addition, all students study core Physical Education each week (although this is not formally examined). Students complete their timetable by selecting four options subjects from a wide range of GCSE and GCSE equivalent technical qualifications designed to further their love of learning and facilitate their progress on to the next stage of their education. An overview of each of the courses currently offered as options subjects can be found in our Key Stage 4 Curriculum A-Z (see below for link to 2018 version). For convenience a link to the exam board page for each course is also provided at the bottom of this page. For many of our students the next stage is Thurston Sixth, Beyton Campus and progression to University education. Others make a successful transition to further education at West Suffolk College or other local providers.

Effective citizenship is promoted through our comprehensive age-appropriate programme of Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE). This is detailed in our PSHCE Summary document (see below). Beyond that, the many and varied experiences provided by the planned curriculum ensure that we continue to nurture students’ spiritual, moral and cultural development.

At Thurston Community College we are continually reviewing our curriculum design and the opportunities it affords. Aspirations and the level of academic challenge are high and we recognise the need to provide a diverse range of support in order to empower our students to realise their full potential. To this end, where we feel that our typical curriculum programme does not best meet the needs of a student we work with external providers to create an appropriate bespoke timetable.

Key Stage 4 qualifications have recently undergone review and have re-emerged as ‘new style’ GCSEs. The key differences are that almost all qualifications will be assessed entirely by examination at the end of Year 11 and that Grades 9 to 1 will replace the old grading scheme of A*-G. More information about this new grading can be viewed at